Isaiah 35:10, commentary and pictures

Isaiah 35:10 is the climax of God coming to save His people, opening blind eyes and deaf ears, healing the lame and dumb, bringing water to the desert, and making a holy highway where no unclean person or ravenous beast is found but the redeemed walk safely to Zion. It promises that the ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy upon them, obtaining gladness while sorrow and sighing flee away, as the earth is made new where God dwells with His people and tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain are gone. That homecoming will be fulfilled when Christ returns to gather the righteous to their eternal home and lead them singing through the gates into the city of God, where the crown of life is placed upon them as everlasting joy and sorrow, pain and death are no more. God Himself has cast up that way for the ransomed as a royal, holy, narrow and straight highway of holiness, righteousness and purity, safe and secure because Christ leads and illuminates every step, though rough and thorny because He trod it before them and smoothed it for their feet. Walking and staying on it is a life of obedience to God's commandments, self-denial, taking up the cross and following Christ, leaving behind pride, self-will and sin, pressing forward by faith through trial without straying, and guiding others onto the same path.

Context and Wording

The verse stands at the climax of God coming with vengeance and recompense to save His people. That coming opens blind eyes and unstops deaf ears, makes the lame leap and the mute sing, and brings waters and pools to the wilderness and desert. Out of that saving work He makes a highway called the way of holiness, where the unclean cannot pass and no lion or ravenous beast is found, but the redeemed walk in safety.

The promise is that the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon them. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. That gladness replaces sorrow and sighing, which come to an end and run away. The return with singing and with lasting joy resting upon them is the future restoration of the people of God.

The promise belongs to God's own work of transforming what is barren and saving His people. That future state can also be fulfilled in people's lives in this world through God's working, and the lives and influence of His workmen should correspond to that outcome. All honor for that transformation belongs to God and not to the people through whom He works. The return to Zion gives the prepared path its destination, for the way prepared for the Lord's ransomed leads to Zion and the royal path they walk in ends there.

Future Homecoming

The promise looks to the new earth and the earth made new, where God dwells with His people and tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain are gone. There the redeemed return to Zion singing and possessing everlasting joy, with gladness replacing sorrow and sighing as sorrow and sighing flee away. That future joy includes praising God together with those they helped to save.

It will be fulfilled when Christ returns to gather the righteous to Himself and bring them home to the eternal world. Then they enter endless day and are taken to their eternal home, arriving singing, filled with lasting joy and free from sorrow and sighing.

It belongs to the closing time of fitting up for heaven before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished. Then the outpouring of the Spirit is expected and angels are in the midst, God's people are out of the cities, and each must walk in full obedience to all the commandments. It is given for encouragement to be laid up in the heart, calling every person and every member of the family to accept Christ as Saviour and friend, take the offered salvation, place himself wholly on the Lord's side, consecrate himself to God's service, draw together and not disband, and depend on Christ alone for salvation, with the ransomed returning to Zion with songs and everlasting joy where sorrow and sighing flee away.

It shows the final rejoicing of the ransomed when safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan, forever delivered from the bondage of the curse with joy unspeakable and full of glory. As Israel at the Feast of Tabernacles rejoiced in deliverance from Egypt, care in the wilderness, and pardon through the Day of Atonement just ended, so the ransomed will rejoice. It means Christ's great work of atonement will then have been completed and their sins forever blotted out.

It applies to the deliverance of God's commandment-keeping people after the time of trouble. They shall at last reach Zion with singing and lasting joy in complete victory after the needed discipline of the church militant amid wrath against those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. All the angelic hosts will rejoice over them with singing.

It describes the final entrance through the gates into the city of God and the Holy City with singing and everlasting joy. That entrance is the crown of righteousness and eternal life in the presence of God, given by the righteous Judge at Christ's appearing to all who love His appearing and keep the faith through tribulation, distress, persecution, imprisonment and death. It is reached by climbing the shining steps from earth to heaven by divine grace with the help of Jesus and holy angels, with every prayer of an honest heart heard and answered when the blessing is most needed and only what is for good and for God's glory given. That climbing is the progressive work of sanctification by adding to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity, so that those who grow in Christian graces and do not fall at last enter through the gates into the city and into the everlasting kingdom of Christ.

At the final gathering the ransomed meet at the gate of the holy city when it is thrown back on its glittering hinges, singing this song with all heaven filled with rich music and songs of praise to the Lamb. The nations that have kept His word and commandments enter, the crown of the overcomer, the crown of life, is placed upon their heads as everlasting joy, and golden harps are placed in their hands. To be thus saved everlastingly in the kingdom of glory, with a life that measures with the life of God, is the reward for overcoming Satan through faith laying hold of Christ's strength.

The promise is applied to commandment-keepers welcomed into the city, who rejoice in freedom from the law's bondage, have access to the tree of life and its healing leaves, and hear Jesus promise that sorrow, pain, and death will be no more. Their entrance into the Holy City in victorious triumph with songs and everlasting joy belongs to those who love and obey God. Only those who love and obey God belong to that company, for profession without willing, genuine love and obedience will not secure entrance and a right to the tree of life, while all the angelic hosts rejoice over the victorious with singing.

It describes the restored and lasting home of the redeemed after living as pilgrims and wanderers. Paths are prepared for them in the renewed earth beside ever-flowing streams clear as crystal shaded by waving trees, where the heavenly Shepherd leads them to fountains of living water. There on peaceful plains, hills, and mountains of beauty they find a home and dwell in security.

It pictures the waiting ending, the wedding robe being put on, and glory and joy beginning. It points to the everlasting joy that will dawn for those who choose to be refined, purified, and made white in the blood of the Lamb. They will dwell in God's presence, receive glory, honor, and immortality, and never know sorrow, sighing, or separation again. The hope of that joy and of joining that happy gathering calls people to accept Christ's mercy and let the truths of God's word prepare them for the kingdom of glory and a home in heaven.

Way Prepared for Ransomed

The verse presents a highway and path cast up and prepared by God for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in as they return to Zion, travel toward heaven, and reach the city of God. It is a royal, holy, divine, elevated, high, narrow, and straight pathway, the way of holiness, righteousness, peace, and purity. It is a precious path toward heaven marked by trials and discouragements, yet through faith and determined effort to defeat the enemy it can be a victorious and triumphant way. It is a narrow path away from sin, pleasure, and folly, and a path of life leading away from perdition and death. Those who walk in this elevated highway of holiness must maintain their position with wisdom, strength, and courage imparted by the Holy Spirit, pressing forward despite being in enemy territory.

The prepared way is safe and secure, so that the ransomed need not stumble in unbelief but can walk securely each day. They can travel safely because God is their refuge and protection from Satan's attacks. Christ their Righteousness leads them along that path, which is the character and life prepared for eternal life. The way to heaven is a narrow path prepared for the ransomed to walk, and Christ, the Way and the Truth, illuminates it at every step. Remaining on that safe path requires converted men transformed in character, sanctified through the truth in the inner sanctuary of the soul, emptied of vanity and self, exercising eternal vigilance as the price of safety, and seeking counsel of God in large and small matters connected with His sacred work for the last times, for without this men will be turned from the safe path and will turn others from it, imperiling the work of God and bringing discouragement upon the people.

The road is rough and thorny, the ascent steep and dangerous, with pitfalls on the right and on the left, and the path is not smooth and without trouble. It requires toil in the journey, toiling on when weary and longing for rest, fighting when faint, and hoping when discouraged. But Christ Himself has trod the rough pathway before them, traveled that path, beat down the thorns and rough places, and smoothed the path for their feet. He who is the Light of the world illuminates the way, so that as they follow in His steps the path grows brighter unto the perfect day. It is the privilege of children to walk in its light as the Word becomes a lamp to their path, with Christ leading the way as the true Shepherd so that in following Him they avoid by-paths and dangerous pitfalls.

The path is God's complete way, not a human route or one gained by works of penance. It welcomes even the hardened sinner who truly repents, but leaves no place for sin. Those who walk it must leave behind pride, self-will, deceit, dishonesty, passion, and carnal lusts. The path may look harsh and unattractive, but it leads to the peace and joy of Christ rather than the false happiness of sin.

The path is not a burdensome, sorrowful journey, for those who trust Christ can walk it with joy and peace rather than doubts, gloomy forebodings, murmuring, and groaning. When the aim of life is to serve and honor Christ and bless others, even the dreariest path of duty becomes bright. There is no royal road to heaven, for the cross lies directly in the path that must be traveled to reach the crown, and only those humbled even as a little child have part in the kingdom. The highway cast up for the ransomed is the path of duty where even the dreariest paths become bright ways when the motive of all life is to serve and honor Christ and bless humanity by active ministry to those for whom He died, with Jesus standing close beside the one He uses to meet the wants and necessities of every soul.

The way is the way of obedience to God and Christ, yielding the will to God's will in obedience to His commandments and making His standard of righteousness the aim of life. It is a royal, holy, divine pathway, the authoritative direction God has given to guide men to heaven. It is a narrow path of following God and obeying His standard, opened by the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son and provided by Christ giving up His own life. The ransomed are those Jesus has purchased with His blood, who may accept Him as personal Saviour and by His grace lead others toward that heavenly path by example, with their time, strength, and abilities trained and used in His service rather than self-seeking and self-indulgence, and they follow Christ by lifting the cross of self-denial. To tamper with the Lord's standard and depart from His commandments is the worst rebellion, leaving that path to follow false waymarks in the path of the first great apostate instead of following Jesus Christ, though thousands, yes, millions would be found walking in it were they not confused and made drunk with the wine of Babylon.

Turning the feet into that path describes those who accept the truth and keep the Sabbath, as seen in the little flock and the little company at Launceston. The Lord has cast up a royal path for His ransomed to walk in, and those who turn to keep the Sabbath have turned their feet into that path. Keeping the feet in that path means clinging to the pillars of faith established through the three messages, making the Word of God the only guide, testing everything by the law and the testimony, and trusting in the Lord rather than putting confidence in man.

The image of a path explains why God's word is a lamp and guide for every step toward the city and why Satan works to obstruct the way. Scripture must therefore be searched humbly and prayerfully to know God's will and reach eternal life. Satan seeks to obscure that light so they will not find or keep the path. The Bible guides those who would lead others from darkness onto it, and their use of money and their choices should support that work rather than serve self-pleasing.

Walking and Staying

Walking the way is a life study of placing the feet in it and following through life, following Christ's example and the directions of Scripture, living with pure principles and a godly life, and persevering in the work of Christian character until finally entering the joy of the Lord. Those who loyally follow find sure footing as they return to Him on a clear and secure path prepared for the Lord's ransomed people. The path is not smooth and without trouble, but Jesus traveled that path before them and beat down the thorns and rough places and made a smooth path for their feet to follow in His footsteps.

The way to Zion is precious yet marked by trials and discouragements, though through faith and determined effort to defeat the enemy it can be a victorious and triumphant way. The road is rough and thorny, the ascent steep and dangerous, with pitfalls on the right and on the left, requiring toil when weary and longing for rest, fighting when faint, and hoping when discouraged. Those who walk in it must maintain their position with wisdom, strength, and courage imparted by the Holy Spirit, pressing forward despite being in enemy territory. They walk step by step, receiving fresh supplies of grace and truth as they advance, and are encouraged to keep pressing forward on that straight and narrow path toward God's kingdom. With Christ as Guide they are led safely and do not lose the path and do not fail to reach the end, because Christ Himself has trod the rough pathway before them and smoothed the path for their feet, and as the Light of the world He illuminates the way so that as they follow in His steps the path grows brighter unto the perfect day.

Walking in it means following in His footsteps and choosing the suffering part of religion, being a partaker with Christ of His sufferings with the promise of being a partaker with Him of His glory. There is no royal road to heaven, for the cross lies directly in the path that must be traveled to reach the crown, and only those humbled even as a little child have part in the kingdom. Even the dreariest path of duty becomes bright when the motive of all life is to serve and honor Christ and bless humanity by active ministry to those for whom He died, with Jesus standing close beside the one He uses to meet the wants and necessities of every soul.

The ransomed are those who repent of sins and are converted. They stay on that narrow way by not resting in self-confidence, by devoting heart and soul to the work of God, by working as Christ gave example, by developing a Christlike character through doing all they possibly can in the service of the Redeemer, by never swerving from the way, and by suffering if need be rather than yielding to Satan's claims and demands.

Staying on the way means coming after Christ by denying self and taking up the cross and following Him, with self-denial and self-sacrifice marking the life and with a truly converted taste seen even in dress. They are not to step down from that set-apart path to meet the world's standard, but to show a clear contrast through simplicity, self-control, humility, and obedience. Their controlled appetites, simple dress, and holy speech keep the contrast clear and shine as a light to others, rather than adopting the world's extravagant fashions and self-indulgence, obeying God with simplicity, meekness, and humility. Their outward appearance is to accord with inward peace and holiness, whose highest beauty is the imperishable meek and quiet spirit.

The way is the path of self-denial and self-sacrifice, following Christ and bearing the cross toward the Father's home in heaven. Walking this narrow way requires following the directions of the guidebook and following the example of Christ and working as He worked. Those on this path far above all worldly schemes and practices must show the purity of their principles by their works, by a well-ordered life and godly conversation proving the genuineness of their profession, because they have a heaven to win. They work out their own salvation with fear and trembling lest they fail to perfect Christian character, striving to follow in the footsteps of Christ with His life and teaching ever before them, while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure, and only in this way they reach the gates of the city of God and at last enter into the joy of the Lord with the commendation for good and faithful service.

Remaining on that safe path cast up by God requires converted men who are transformed in character, sanctified through the truth in the inner sanctuary of the soul, emptied of vanity and self, exercising eternal vigilance as the price of safety, and seeking counsel of God in large and small matters connected with His sacred work for the last times. Without this, men will be turned from the safe path and will turn others from it, imperiling the work of God and bringing discouragement upon the people. Feet can stray from that definite path unless self is guarded with ceaseless vigilance and the soul is garrisoned with truth revealed in the Word of God.

Satan strives to hedge up that path of righteousness with every kind of deception, working today through members of the human family just as he worked in Eden through the serpent. He now uses deception through human beings to try to block that path. Turning from the counsel of the Spirit of God to follow human counsel counterworks the Holy Spirit, leaves that path, and leads other souls astray into ruin and condemnation. The track of error lies close beside that exalted track of truth, so at first sight many feet are led astray while supposing they are walking in that exalted way, until the deceptive track widens more and more to include makeshifts and delusive, beautiful things professedly called the truth. Those who depart from that path fall under the deceptive reasoning of Satan, take Satan as their leader, and under his direction turn to scientific problems and erroneous sentiments.

Those who leave that way are misdirected from the path of redemption prepared for future immortal life. Remaining true to God on that path brings happiness under any circumstances, while leaving it is sin and dishonor to holy faith. A person turns from the path when drawn away by his own lust by fixing the heart on some attractive earthly object, catching at Satan's bait and becoming entrapped in his snare, and turning aside from the true path toward the Lord to attractive things of earth leads into Satan's snare. As the end nears temptations to leave the path become stronger and more seductive, yet no power in earth or hell can compel anyone to yield and open the door of the heart to Satan, and staying on this path means choosing righteousness and truth rather than worldly ambition in preparation for immortal life.

Staying on the path requires wisdom from above and walking by faith and not by sight while the church is still militant and not yet triumphant, for selfishness and sensitive pride quickly take offense and lead to independent judgment and walking alone. Walking in that path means receiving God's reproof, refusing to cover crookedness, and correcting the course instead of choosing one's own way. Rejecting the path endangers the soul's salvation and forfeits being a channel of light.

The way is also a path to which people can return after wandering, when those who honored themselves and wandered away into skepticism and infidelity return to the old love and Bible truth. Chastisement through affliction leads them to inquire for the old paths, with the mist of skepticism swept away in repentance. Walking in it then means no longer being driven by love of money or selfish ambition but valuing the Spirit of God working on the heart more highly than gold or human praise, with thoughts directed into new channels, character transformed, love renewed, and aspirations and hopes reaching out toward heavenly things.

God's servants and ministers are to lead others onto this path by teaching, through Christ's grace, obedience to God's commandments and reliance on Christ's righteousness. Their work is to lead people in that path by educating them, giving them the truth, lifting up Jesus before them, and giving line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, while continually studying the Bible themselves so they can present it intelligently to the understanding of the people. Those molded by Christ and transformed by grace can be beacon lights and examples whose influence, blessing, and words help other feet to tread that royal path to heaven whose destination is return to Zion.

The love of Christ exercises a constraining power to draw others into that path. Those ransomed by Christ are to walk in that holy, heavenly way, and the love of Christ constrains them to help their associates walk in it with them, guiding others by love and sympathy to stay wholly on the Lord's side in character and life. Walking in it means having a living connection with God, growing in excellence of character and devotion, in purity and holiness, cultivating every grace of character, honoring Him who gave His life, and living with an eye single to the glory of God. The ransomed have a path to walk in that can be missed through self-deception about one's own defects.

Encouragement for Today

Isaiah 35:10 belongs to the word of promise given to encourage faith, hope, and assurance, to be laid up in the heart and claimed in times of need and emergency. It is to be claimed especially when disappointed by spiritual lack seen in churches and individuals, by halting and disaffection among believers, by meeting those unwilling to be helped and strengthened, and by unbelief counterworking the Spirit of God. It stands among the precious promises for the future in Isaiah 35 to be read together with Isaiah 50 for the encouragement of the churches.

The promise of the future state can also be fulfilled in people's lives in this world through God's work of transforming what is barren and saving His people. All honor for that transformation belongs to God and not to the people through whom He works. That outcome is one toward which His workmen's lives and influence should correspond.

The verse is present truth to be proclaimed just now with assurance and power, with no dolorous note and no funeral hymns. In times of discouragement faith is to stay strong in God proved true in the past and discouragement is to be refused. A true heart is to be brought to the help of the Lord against satanic agencies and evil angels in the form of believers working in the ranks to bring in unbelief, the words of strange spirits are never to be repeated, and the rich promises of God which are yea and amen in Christ are to be repeated instead. His Word is to be made the strong testimony, leaning on His sure promise, taking hold of the mighty assurances in Christ, and daily carrying on the work Christ undertook, whose life and death show what sacrifice heaven made so souls under evil powers might not perish but have everlasting life.

The verse calls every person and every member of the family to accept Christ as Saviour and friend, to take the offered salvation, to place himself wholly on the Lord's side, to consecrate himself to God's service, to draw together and not disband, and to depend on Christ alone for salvation. Those who connect in meekness and humbleness with Christ and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost can go singing all the way to Zion in whatever branch of work they are engaged, especially in moving the youth. This does not mean freedom from difficulty, for hard characters to deal with will still be around, but they can be dealt with far more easily because Christ is Helper and workers are laborers together with God.

The image of the redeemed returning to Zion applies to a life directed toward good rather than evil and away from self-seeking and self-indulgence. The young are called to choose that path rather than selfish aims, since the ransomed belong to Christ, purchased by His blood, so their time, strength, and abilities are to be trained and used in His service. Here the path is a life directed away from selfishness and toward Christlike service.

The way of the ransomed is the narrow path away from sin, pleasure, and folly, the path of life leading away from perdition and death. Walking that path means learning to fear God and keep His commandments in this life in preparation to enter the city as conquerors. It is the way of those who follow the third angel's message, who must guard against being diverted and walk humbly in dependence on Christ.

The verse guides those who would lead souls out of darkness toward that path and calls for following it humbly and trustingly. No one is to be led from it, no one is to lead others onto paths outside the way God has appointed, and steadfastness is required not to consent to leave it even under pressure. Nor is anyone to be drawn aside by extreme positions or to stop resisting evidences of truth.

The path is the right way for guiding children and youth, and even the least child is meant to stay on it and not wander from it. Keeping children on that way requires teachers whose daily life shows practical godliness revealing the character and love of Jesus. Parents are to guide children in that path rather than let them shape their lives to please themselves, for walking in it involves conversion and overcoming worldliness and self-indulgence through Christ received in repentance and faith.

The memory of Christ's loving words to children helped guide them along the path from which they were kept from straying in later years. Young people may be drawn from the narrow path of holiness by degrees, and after a wrong step they must return with humility, confess and forsake their half-hearted course, and renew their first experience. Teachers will answer for their care of students, and at the judgment they will see where students' feet turned away from that path.

No one can be compelled or driven to travel the narrow path of holiness, for men may be won but not driven into the truth. Self-confidence makes that path seem too restricted, but those who depend on and abide in Christ will share the promised deliverance and glory. Remaining true to God on that path brings happiness under any circumstances while leaving it is sin and dishonor, though no power in earth or hell can compel anyone to yield.

The ransomed hear Jesus lifting up His voice saying Follow Me and will not follow a stranger. They may have Christ by their side in every place and work as they respond to His drawing with prayer and praise from the heart, for Christ is to them a well of water springing up into everlasting life. With grateful hearts they speak the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into marvelous light, and with Christ as Guide they are led safely without losing the path or failing to reach the end.

Turning from the counsel of the Spirit to follow human counsel counterworks the Holy Spirit, leaves that path, and leads other souls astray into ruin. Walking in the royal way toward God requires the Spirit, and those who do not follow it themselves cannot feel their duty to guide others along it. The ransomed are to choose and practice God's way instead of their own, following God's ways and words rather than selfish motives, self-confidence, circumstances, and worldly policy.

Unsanctified leaders who move by their own desires make crooked paths for themselves and others, and when the lame and weak trust such leaders they are led into false paths that are not the way cast up for the ransomed. The ransomed advance in spirituality as they live by every word from God's mouth, led step by step to certain victory with a greater Captain than Joshua in their midst, and the path grows brighter with every step. Their advance must correspond with increased light and blessings, with talents improved and fruit corresponding to advantages given, or the light becomes darkness.

The path of the ransomed is the way of truth with no place for self-glory, where God's people walk under His guidance with self set aside and are tested and made humble as they prepare for the heavenly gathering. It was made through infinite sacrifice, and keeping to it means learning the Lord's ways and avoiding unbelief and straying. Choosing another way means following Satan instead of following Jesus Christ, for to tamper with the Lord's standard and depart from His commandments is the worst rebellion, leaving that royal, holy, divine pathway to follow false waymarks in the path of the first great apostate.

Thousands would walk in it were they not confused and made drunk with the wine of Babylon. Following Christ keeps a person on that path, and no one can lead those who follow Him astray from it. Those who follow Christ can walk it without being led astray by others' errors.

The verse presents the future joy of the redeemed in the earth made new as praising God together with those they helped to save. Believers should help others find the path that leads souls out of darkness rather than spend means to please themselves, examining whether they use abilities to guide souls along it and submit to heaven's influence. In the judgment they will see whom they might have saved.

The verse describes the ransomed returning to Zion with songs and lasting joy, free at last from sorrow and sighing, with paths prepared as the right way contrasting with paths of error that lead to destruction. The way of obedience is distinct from the broad and convenient way chosen by those who reject Him. Those who walk it are glad and thankful to belong to God's people.

To be among the ransomed is to stop resisting evidences of truth and to obey God's requirements instead of remaining indifferent or following self-will, for the path is holiness and not broad views, since the broad road leads to death. The verse applies to pressing forward on that path while receiving Christ as personal Saviour, which means feeding on the Word in daily life, ennobling and sanctifying the person and leading to growth in Christlike character. Through it God's prepared way is one by which Christ's love draws others and those who follow it learn to do God's will, with Christ their Righteousness leading along that path in character and life prepared for eternal life, which is the course of life students should follow in loyalty to the Lord.